Are You Using Facebook Live Video Yet?

Social media is popular. Video is popular. Live content is popular. Put these three trends together into one tight package and the net result is something called Facebook Live. In effect, it is Facebook’s answer to other live video streaming services like Periscope and Meerkat.

The difference, of course, is that it’s tied into the world’s largest and most popular social network. If you’re looking for ways to improve audience engagement, perhaps to draw more attention to your syndicated content, then the live video feature on Facebook could be one of your golden tickets… until Facebook throws in another pay-to-play wrench into the mix.

For the time being, Facebook Live isn’t being offered to everyone. What I found in my own experience is that my personal profile does not have Facebook Live enabled, but several of my Facebook pages do.

When you “go live” with Facebook, the video is broadcast live to anyone who cares to watch. Unlike some other platforms where your old broadcasts could disappear into the ether, your Facebook Live videos subsequently appear on your timeline like regularly uploaded videos after your live broadcast has concluded.

The Real Time Video Conversation

So, how do you get started?

The first thing you’ll need to do is to grab your Android smartphone or your iPhone (or other iOS device). Facebook Live currently does not work on desktop or with other mobile devices. Navigate to your Facebook page through the usual menu and tap on the “post”